‘..in Nigeria, a World Bank-supported project has provided more than 13 million women, adolescent girls, and children with quality, cost-effective nutrition services over the past five years.’
Felicienne Soton is part of a women’s group that produces gari (cassava flour). She and her group in Adjegounle village have greatly benefited from Benin’s national CDD project. Photo: © Arne Hoel/World Bank.
Every day, millions of children are robbed of their potential before they even start school. This is not a distant tragedy—it’s a global emergency. Malnutrition is one of the most critical, yet often overlooked, development challenges of our time…
The consequences are devastating: stunted growth, impaired cognitive development, and increased mortality. Economically, malnutrition perpetuates poverty and stifles national development, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable: women and children.
The good news is we know what works to save lives.By scaling up high-impact nutrition interventions and access to healthy food, we can prevent 6.2 million child deaths and nearly 1 million stillbirths over the next decade.
The economic case for action is equally compelling. Every dollar invested in combating malnutrition yields a $23 return through better health outcomes and increased productivity. Such investments could generate enormous economic benefits by ensuring children not only survive but thrive, finishing their education and ultimately living up to their full potential in the workforce…
The World Bank Group is deeply committed to embedding nutrition actions and measurable outcomes across all our investments.
Its focus is clear: scaling up essential nutrition services, integrating nutrition into health systems and across other sectors, and leveraging financing through public and private solutions.For instance, in Nigeria, a World Bank-supported project has provided more than 13 million women, adolescent girls, and children with quality, cost-effective nutrition services over the past five years.
In Africa, for example, the IFC is expanding access to agricultural insurance for millions of smallholders, helping them manage the risks to crops from extreme weather, pests, and diseases. Innovations like these support food security and sustainable business practices.
We know that real impact in nutrition requires working across sectors. I have seen firsthand that nutrition programs are more effective when integrated with broader development efforts, including health, education, agriculture, clean water, and social protection…
Investing in nutrition is smart economics, with every dollar spent generating high returns in terms of healthier populations, better qualified workforce, and stronger earning potential. With the right investments and continued commitment, we can bring hope and a better future to the millions of children still caught in the grip of malnutrition.
This article (abridged) was originally published in Les Echos in French on March 27, 2025. Source: World Bank Blogs.